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phantasmemes2018-10-18 11:48 pm
phantasmods) wrote in phantasmemes2018-10-18 11:48 pm
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME - OCTOBER 2018
Hello and welcome to Phantasmal Rift's Test Drive Meme!
Test drive threads are assumed to be game canon for accepted characters unless otherwise noted, so don't feel like you'll have to introduce yourself a second time to everyone you meet! As an added bonus, participation in the test drive comes with the chance to earn up to two items of loot for your trouble! Characters who are accepted can earn one item for having a top level, and one for tagging out to someone else's top level! Your SWEET LOOT will be included with your acceptance notice.
Additionally, characters currently in game can earn themselves a piece of bonus loot for the dungeon by tagging people's top-levels on the test drive! Existing characters get their bonus loot along with the rest of their loot at the conclusion of the dungeon.
This test drive takes place in Silvereagle Manor. Once upon a time, this castlelike home was the refuge of a family of magical nobility straddling the line between church and liege. Then, some centuries after the family itself died out or dispersed to the winds, the building was restored and preserved as a historical heritage site, complete with lots of little museum plaques and a ticket counter in the huge entrance hall. Then after that, an apocalypse of sorts happened, and now the building's stood empty for a century, surrounded by magical distortions with quite interesting effects.
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
One of these effects will be immediately apparent to those who find themselves in the manor or upon the grounds, as it affects near all who enter within, whether they arrive through the shifting of dimensions or more mundane means. It is, after all, quite a sudden change to not be in the body you instinctively recognize as your own.
Though the changes will be significantly greater for some than others, and nearly everyone will be basically recognizable as themselves, they will find that the type of being they are as has shifted. They might be an alien, or a robot, or a fantasy creature - or, if they're not normally human, they might suddenly find themselves to be such. With luck, the experience isn't too disorienting, but...
Well, any new arrivals are likely to be glad of the veterans hanging around to explain that this is surely only temporary, aren't they?
GARDEN OF TRUTH
The forward grounds of the manor, once a well-cared for path up to the building complete with a fountain and carriage loop, are now almost entirely coated in creeping ivy. It climbs the remains of ornamental trees and the scattered lamp posts around the grounds - some of which still attempt to flicker weakly in response to the passage of travellers, magical lights lighting no more than a few feet in a circle around them against the rain.
Did I mention that it's raining? Whether it's a steady drizzle or something more intense, the gardens are constantly under cloud and experiencing the wet weather of autumn more often than not. You may end up wanting to run for the cover of the front stairs of the manor house itself, which provides more than enough cover for those not willing to venture into the ruined building itself.
But whether you're on the stairs or out in the wet, you'll feel a tickle in the back of your throat... All characters in the entry garden will find themselves compelled to tell the truth to whoever they're talking to. Lying is nearly impossible, and even if you manage it, it won't reach the ears of the listener as anything more than mumbling - and attempts to simply omit the truth will cause the itch in your throat to increase to the point that it becomes unbearable. Better get ready to spill your guts.
PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES
Inside those doors, beyond the entrance hall and its abandoned ticket counters, you'll be able to follow a thread of music to another set of grand doors, and opening those reveals a beautiful, pristine ballroom. This room is obviously affected by the magic of the building in some kind of way - even if it were not for the music, the unnatural cleanliness of the room compared to the disrepair of the rest of the building, there's the translucent shadows of dancers spinning around the floor. Engaged in waltzes and pavanes to the music, they are largely indistinct to those who are flesh and blood.
If you choose to enter in among the sweeping ballgowns and robes - possibly with your clothes having suddenly manifested into appropriately matching attire themselves by the magic of this place - you're likely to find that one of the specters takes your hands to lead or by led in the dance. No good comes from dancing without a partner, after all! The images, for all their wispiness, are surprisingly forceful in this matter, with unnaturally strong grips and a penchant for steering through the middle of the group, and it might be a while until you can lead your new partner back to the edge of the dance floor in order to beg off. However, those who enter the dancefloor with a partner already in hand will find themselves ignored by the dancers, as are those who enter with the intention of sweeping someone already inside off their feet.
SPOOKY SCARY...
The dancers aren't the only haunted things having fun around the first floor. While there's any number of magically animated brooms and dusters fighting a doomed battle against cobwebs and mildew, they're not the only thing moving about. With the music from the ballroom filtering across the whole floor, you might occasionally hear the clack-clack of something hard hitting the floor.
Where the skeletons come from is a question for another day. Because they're certainly... here... and they've come to dance themselves right into the dust, since they have, apparently, already danced their hearts out.
Unlike the ballroom dancers, the skeletons are performers - many of them have questionable hats, capes made of drapes, or other accessories to dance with, and once they realize they have an audience, they'll do their best to insert themselves into the line of a character's vision as much as possible. They're actually rather friendly and nonviolent, as much as skeletons can be, and rather than fighting over the spotlight, most of them will coordinate their dancing if they wind up sharing someone's attention. If you ever wanted to see how many synchronized cha-cha-ing skeletons you can collect into a single room... Well, now you have a chance to live out that extremely specific fantasy, I guess.
Test drive threads are assumed to be game canon for accepted characters unless otherwise noted, so don't feel like you'll have to introduce yourself a second time to everyone you meet! As an added bonus, participation in the test drive comes with the chance to earn up to two items of loot for your trouble! Characters who are accepted can earn one item for having a top level, and one for tagging out to someone else's top level! Your SWEET LOOT will be included with your acceptance notice.
Additionally, characters currently in game can earn themselves a piece of bonus loot for the dungeon by tagging people's top-levels on the test drive! Existing characters get their bonus loot along with the rest of their loot at the conclusion of the dungeon.
This test drive takes place in Silvereagle Manor. Once upon a time, this castlelike home was the refuge of a family of magical nobility straddling the line between church and liege. Then, some centuries after the family itself died out or dispersed to the winds, the building was restored and preserved as a historical heritage site, complete with lots of little museum plaques and a ticket counter in the huge entrance hall. Then after that, an apocalypse of sorts happened, and now the building's stood empty for a century, surrounded by magical distortions with quite interesting effects.
SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
One of these effects will be immediately apparent to those who find themselves in the manor or upon the grounds, as it affects near all who enter within, whether they arrive through the shifting of dimensions or more mundane means. It is, after all, quite a sudden change to not be in the body you instinctively recognize as your own.
Though the changes will be significantly greater for some than others, and nearly everyone will be basically recognizable as themselves, they will find that the type of being they are as has shifted. They might be an alien, or a robot, or a fantasy creature - or, if they're not normally human, they might suddenly find themselves to be such. With luck, the experience isn't too disorienting, but...
Well, any new arrivals are likely to be glad of the veterans hanging around to explain that this is surely only temporary, aren't they?
GARDEN OF TRUTH
The forward grounds of the manor, once a well-cared for path up to the building complete with a fountain and carriage loop, are now almost entirely coated in creeping ivy. It climbs the remains of ornamental trees and the scattered lamp posts around the grounds - some of which still attempt to flicker weakly in response to the passage of travellers, magical lights lighting no more than a few feet in a circle around them against the rain.
Did I mention that it's raining? Whether it's a steady drizzle or something more intense, the gardens are constantly under cloud and experiencing the wet weather of autumn more often than not. You may end up wanting to run for the cover of the front stairs of the manor house itself, which provides more than enough cover for those not willing to venture into the ruined building itself.
But whether you're on the stairs or out in the wet, you'll feel a tickle in the back of your throat... All characters in the entry garden will find themselves compelled to tell the truth to whoever they're talking to. Lying is nearly impossible, and even if you manage it, it won't reach the ears of the listener as anything more than mumbling - and attempts to simply omit the truth will cause the itch in your throat to increase to the point that it becomes unbearable. Better get ready to spill your guts.
PUT ON YOUR DANCING SHOES
Inside those doors, beyond the entrance hall and its abandoned ticket counters, you'll be able to follow a thread of music to another set of grand doors, and opening those reveals a beautiful, pristine ballroom. This room is obviously affected by the magic of the building in some kind of way - even if it were not for the music, the unnatural cleanliness of the room compared to the disrepair of the rest of the building, there's the translucent shadows of dancers spinning around the floor. Engaged in waltzes and pavanes to the music, they are largely indistinct to those who are flesh and blood.
If you choose to enter in among the sweeping ballgowns and robes - possibly with your clothes having suddenly manifested into appropriately matching attire themselves by the magic of this place - you're likely to find that one of the specters takes your hands to lead or by led in the dance. No good comes from dancing without a partner, after all! The images, for all their wispiness, are surprisingly forceful in this matter, with unnaturally strong grips and a penchant for steering through the middle of the group, and it might be a while until you can lead your new partner back to the edge of the dance floor in order to beg off. However, those who enter the dancefloor with a partner already in hand will find themselves ignored by the dancers, as are those who enter with the intention of sweeping someone already inside off their feet.
SPOOKY SCARY...
The dancers aren't the only haunted things having fun around the first floor. While there's any number of magically animated brooms and dusters fighting a doomed battle against cobwebs and mildew, they're not the only thing moving about. With the music from the ballroom filtering across the whole floor, you might occasionally hear the clack-clack of something hard hitting the floor.
Where the skeletons come from is a question for another day. Because they're certainly... here... and they've come to dance themselves right into the dust, since they have, apparently, already danced their hearts out.
Unlike the ballroom dancers, the skeletons are performers - many of them have questionable hats, capes made of drapes, or other accessories to dance with, and once they realize they have an audience, they'll do their best to insert themselves into the line of a character's vision as much as possible. They're actually rather friendly and nonviolent, as much as skeletons can be, and rather than fighting over the spotlight, most of them will coordinate their dancing if they wind up sharing someone's attention. If you ever wanted to see how many synchronized cha-cha-ing skeletons you can collect into a single room... Well, now you have a chance to live out that extremely specific fantasy, I guess.
no subject
[The shadow man thankfully lets go at this revelation. Which is good, as Poe was starting to consider the pros and cons of trying to sic Karl on him. He'd be more appreciative usually, but Poe's too stunned at Nikolai being in front of him to notice the hand for a solid minute.
He reaches out and carefully takes it with a shaking hand after a moment though.]
I... how?
[His voice is quiet but there's an edge of hope in there. The changes only give a slight pause. It's not strange when he and Karl have been changed too.]
no subject
Surprised?
[Had he simply wanted to tease Poe, he’d take this moment to plant a kiss on his hand in an all too formal and (in his opinion) outdated gesture. But with it carrying a tone of sincerity, and the obstacle of his own head, he simply leads him out to the dance floor.]
For some strange and unusual reason.
[But right now he’s not going to question it.]
no subject
[He'll allow it even if his tail swishes nervously and he eyes the feet of all the dancers on the floor with dread. He'll just have to hope no one will step on it or that these shadows aren't solid enough to hurt.]
I'm not going to question whatever particular reason that is.
[He'll accept it.]
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I must say, Alanushka, your new features are very cute.
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I ah... um... thank you. Your new feature... well... it's something I'm sure you're having fun with.
[Decapitated heads aren't exactly cute... and he's sort of worried Gogol might accidentally leave it somewhere.]
no subject
[Speaking of, though, as they settle into a gap between the dancers, he’s reminded of something.]
It’s a good thing I showed you how to dance with a decapitated head, isn’t it?
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[He can finally say the nickname to him in person now! An soft laugh is had at the comment about the decapitated head.]
It is. Goodness... that was quite the long time ago wasn't it?
[A warm smile. It's clear that Poe has fangs now.]
Things were quite different between us then, weren't they?
no subject
Really, quite different.
[As if to make a point, he laces his fingers between Poe’s, though that’s really not proper form, and pulls him closer.]
I do hope you remembered all the steps!
[Because, however awkwardly, they are going to start dancing now.]
no subject
[Poe visibly beams at the color dusting Gogol's cheeks. Being able to effect him like this... it's nice. A soft purring can be briefly heard when Gogol laces his fingers between Poe's although Poe himself doesn't seem to notice it as he's focusing on the dancing and enjoying the feeling of them lacing together their fingers this time.]
I do. You made it very hard to forget.
[It appears he actually was paying attention all that time ago based on him keeping up. Karl does not appear to appreciate all the sudden movements going on from his perch on Poe's shoulder and is digging his tiny bird claws into the fabric of his shirt. He still hasn't figured out how to fly, and Poe seems to be enjoying himself, so all he can really do is glare at Gogol's head.]
no subject
My, did you just purr?
no subject
[He almost trips at this, but catches himself and continues. His ears flick back in irritation and his tail starts lashing in frustration.]
I knew there were some vocal chord changes... but I um... never actually took the time to experiment with them.
no subject
What would happen if I scratched your ears?
no subject
[It just seems sort of... intimate. Also it'd require letting people get really close.]
no subject
What about a laser pointer? Or catnip? Are you going to start bringing in dead mice?
[Romance is dead and Nikolai Gogol killed it.]
no subject
[This state better be temporary he swears to god.]
I haven't exactly experimented with this new form.
[It's not like he was going to try meowing at nothing or scratching someone. He appears to be like one of those cats that is really chill with birds though as Karl isn't effecting him.]
no subject
[He's one part disappointed, one part delighted. He can figure out all the fine details with him, and that'd be nothing short of fun.]
Aren't you curious?
no subject
[He's starting to enjoy the dancing, but if Gogol wants to stop and experiment with cat things instead, that's fine by him.]
no subject
[Says the man who spent like forty minutes playing with his own head before even trying to figure out where he was.]
no subject
[He had his priorities straight.]
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[If you just stumble your way around playing catch with your own head like Gogol.]
Well, is it to your tastes?
no subject
[Fair point.]
I could do without the party, but it's otherwise perfectly to my tastes.
[He appreciates the aesthetic of it all.]
no subject
[Just to emphasize, he tries to lead Poe into a twirl.]
What would our reunion have been without it?
[The theatrics and the timing of it was as close to perfect as Gogol could've asked for.]
no subject
[He catches onto it and goes along with being lead into a twirl. It's a bit embarrassing, but it's starting to actually be sort of fun.]
... but I suppose our reunion would have been far less dramatic without it.
[And that just wouldn't do, considering both of their tastes.]
no subject
[As if taking a cue, Gogol's head passes through the fabric, and he holds it up through his neck void. It's still unsettling, but at least they can be at eye level now.]
no subject
An us without theatrics... dear, that sounds impossible.
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